Capitol launches ‘Tabang Pangbyahe’ program

Local

THE Cebu provincial government launched a program that rewards transport operators not for passenger volume, but for service quality.

The province on Wednesday, June 17, signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) for the implementation of the “Tabang Pangbyahe” program.

With the signing of the agreement, Cebu is poised to become the first local government unit in the country to implement its own public transportation net service contracting program.

The program will shift the focus of public transport from maximizing passenger loads to meeting service standards and improving commuter experience.

Present during the MOA signing at the Cebu South Bus Terminal were Governor Pamela S. Baricuatro, DOTr Senior Undersecretary for Road Transport and Infrastructure Mark Steven Pastor, and LTFRB Chairman Vigor D. Mendoza II.

Under the agreement, the DOTr will provide P20 million in financial assistance to Cebu Province for the implementation of the Service Contracting Program (SCP).

The program will adopt the Net Service Contracting scheme, under which transport operators continue collecting fares while receiving government subsidies based on compliance with service standards and performance indicators.

The MOA states that the program seeks to ensure the continued availability, accessibility, and reliability of public transportation services while providing support to transport operators affected by rising fuel prices linked to ongoing global tensions, particularly the Middle East crisis.

Baricuatro said the agreement represents a commitment to improving mobility in the province.

“This signing marks not just an agreement on paper but the beginning of real, felt change on how you move through our province,” she said.

“From our 2 Pilot Routes, we will expand further with the main objective in mind, to provide every Cebuanos: ‘Nindot nga Byahe, Dali ug Komportable’ and this is what Tabang Pangbyahe is all about,” she added.

The initial implementation will cover two pilot routes identified by the Provincial Planning and Development Office (PPDO).

This will include Cebu I.T. Park to Danao City and back, and the Cebu South Bus Terminal to Simala in Sibonga and back.

Passengers under the program will board and alight only at designated bus stops.

Participating bus operators must comply with service requirements, including GPS tracking linked to a command center, functioning interior and exterior cameras, low-floor buses for persons with disabilities and senior citizens, properly maintained air-conditioning systems, and a maximum capacity of 60 passengers with no standing passengers allowed.

The provincial government will monitor compliance through inspections and GPS-generated reports, including bus stop dwell times and adherence to operational standards.

PPDO executive assistant Elizar Sabinay Jr. said commuter experience is central to the program.

“The service criteria really ensure that the main factor is commuter experience. That’s why we define Tabang Pangbyahe as mas nindot nga byahe, dali, ug komportable. That’s what we want,” Sabinay said.

Under the MOA, the provincial government will directly contract qualified transport service entities, while the DOTr and LTFRB will provide policy guidance, route approvals, monitoring, and regulatory oversight.(MyTVCebu)